The Armed Forces of Ukraine Prepare to Create Cyber Forces: Successful Operations Can Earn Over 1 Million Hryvnias

Ukraine may establish a separate branch within the Armed Forces responsible for conducting military cyber operations, protecting military information systems, countering cyberattacks, and strengthening the country's defense capabilities in the digital environment. The draft law on the Cyber Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has already been prepared for consideration in the second reading.

In the context of rapid technological development and increasing cyber threats, Ukraine must not only defend itself but also develop its own capabilities for active actions in cyberspace.

The Committee notes that cybersecurity and cyber defense issues are becoming increasingly important. The development of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, creates new challenges for national security, so Ukraine must strengthen its digital capabilities in advance.

It is emphasized that after the law is adopted, the Cyber Forces will need to be provided with adequate resources and modern technologies to effectively counter Russian aggression and carry out cyber defense measures.

As of today, the draft law awaits consideration by parliament in the second reading.

Why the Cyber Forces are proposed

The creation of the Cyber Forces is one of the steps toward adapting Ukrainian legislation to NATO standards.

The authors of the legislative initiative remind that the Alliance has recognized cyberspace as a separate domain of operations alongside land, sea, and air. The full-scale war has also demonstrated that cyberattacks have become an important component of modern combat operations.

The purpose of the draft law is to create a military and technical structure within the Armed Forces responsible for the state's cyber defense, protection of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in cyberspace.

The document states that key tasks of the new units will include enhancing cyber deterrence capabilities, gaining military advantage over the enemy, and weakening their capabilities through operations in the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace.

What powers the Cyber Forces will have

Draft Law No. 12349 defines the Cyber Forces as the main entity responsible for preparing and conducting military cyber defense measures in Ukraine.

Main tasks include:

• preparing and conducting military cyber operations;
• protecting Ukraine's sovereignty and inviolability in cyberspace;
• cyber protection of electronic communication systems and technological process control systems in the defense sector;
• conducting operations in the electromagnetic spectrum;
• military cooperation with NATO, international organizations, and partner states in the field of cyber defense.

The Cyber Forces will also be able to conduct special intelligence and other special activities in cyberspace to prepare and carry out military cyber operations.

Additionally, interaction with IT companies, volunteer organizations, public associations, and other entities is foreseen for preparing and conducting cyber defense measures.

What the structure of the Cyber Forces will be

The Cyber Forces structure is proposed to include:

• a military command body of the Cyber Forces;
• military units and subdivisions;
• military educational and scientific institutions;
• state research infrastructure for cyber defense;
• specialized laboratories;
• testing grounds for detecting and analyzing malicious software;
• sites for researching cyberattacks and conducting scientific and technical developments.

Creation of a separate cyber reserve is planned

One of the key innovations of the draft law is the creation of a military reserve for the Cyber Forces.

It may include Ukrainian citizens, foreigners, and stateless persons who have the necessary knowledge, skills, and pass professional selection.

The document provides for the possibility of promptly involving reservists in tasks both in peacetime and during special periods.

Reservists will be able to perform tasks not only on the territory of military units but also remotely—from anywhere in the world if technical capabilities allow and there is a corresponding command order.

Also, citizens who are not subject to mobilization but have the necessary professional competencies in cybersecurity may be accepted into the military reserve of the Cyber Forces.

What rewards are proposed for successful cyber operations

The draft law pays special attention to material incentives for servicemen and employees of the Cyber Forces.

The document proposes that the official salaries of servicemen and employees of the Cyber Forces, whose activities are directly related to planning, coordinating, and implementing cyber defense tasks, be set with a coefficient of 1.8 of the official salaries defined for corresponding positions in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In addition, the draft law includes provisions for one-time additional rewards for servicemen and employees who participated in planning and conducting successful cyber operations.

In particular, by decision of the President of Ukraine, for a strategic-level cyber operation aimed at preventing armed aggression against Ukraine, the reward may amount to 400 subsistence minimums for able-bodied persons. As of 2026, this equals 1,331,200 UAH.

For strategic and operational-level cyber operations against enemy military targets and in support of Ukraine's allied states, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine may award 100 subsistence minimums, which as of 2026 equals 332,800 UAH.

By decision of the Cyber Forces commander, the reward may be 25 subsistence minimums, or 83,200 UAH.

Thus, the draft law provides not only for the creation of a new branch but also financial incentives to attract and retain highly qualified specialists in cybersecurity and military cyber operations.

The draft law proposes to expand the state cyber defense system

The document also provides amendments to several Ukrainian laws.

In particular, it is proposed to include cyberattacks or their combination, which may threaten the independence, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as actions aimed at damaging or destroying critical infrastructure, in the list of threats to state defense.

Moreover, the draft law proposes creating a national cyber defense system that will include security and defense sector bodies, law enforcement agencies, intelligence structures, and other state bodies involved in ensuring the country's cybersecurity.

During preparation of the document for the second reading, the Committee recommended the Verkhovna Rada adopt the draft law in the second reading and in full.

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